Help me buy a laptop, please,

[perhaps]

Currently we have a desktop (Dell) in the upstairs office.  DH uses this for work in the evenings and it is where I do the banking and stuff.  DH has a netbook (Dell) that he takes with him to work everyday.

Need.......DD is in third grade and now has recommended (read required) computer work every night.  She has been sitting at the kitchen table with the netbook while I am making /cleaning-up dinner.  While convenient the netbook really isn't ideal with the small screen.  And last night DH had a meeting with a client.  So DD was in the upstairs office while I was in the kitchen.  I had to run upstairs a half dozen times to help her. 


Want.........I think I want to stick with Dell.  My work computer is a Dell also, I get how the Dells work.  It is my understanding that DD will get more computer work (power point presentations, reports, spreadsheets).  We are not a gaming family.  We got a Wii a few years back, while cleaning this week-end I noticed 2 of the games are still wrapped in cellophane.  DH and I don't do much with computers while at home, unless work related.  We have a Kindle Fire just for the fun stuff. 


So what do I NEED this laptop to have.  I know ZIP about buying a computer.  I want it to fit our needs for the next few years.  But I don't want to buy one with all sorts of stuff we will never use.

Thanks in advance!

[alabamagal]

Can she use Kindle?  Is she just doing Internet based tasks, because I thought that would work for Kindle.

We always buy low end 15" screen laptops.  For home use and kid's school use (college).   They have enough computer power to do any internet applications.  We are pretty tough on them, so they don't last long.  Last one that broke was a Dell, so not too big on them right now.  Have had a Compaq and Acer last a couple years.

DD bought the most recent one in August (when his 1 year old Dell just out of warranty).  He got a 15" screen Acer (I think) laptop at BestBuy for $279.  It does everything he needs for senior level college business classes.

[midjd]

If you're just using it for routine internet browsing and homework, the lowest-end Dell (or Acer, Lenovo, etc.) should be just fine. Even the cheapest computers today have everything you need to run Word/Excel/Powerpoint, browse the internet, etc. You don't need a ton of memory (I have 120 gigs on my MacBook, which holds every document I've drafted since my senior year of college (I graduated in 06), every picture I've taken since college, 1000+ songs, several full-length movies, etc.) or graphics.

Depending on how soon you want to pull the trigger, you can probably get some great Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals...

[souldoubt]

I got the cheapest dell laptop I could back in 2006/2007 to use for studying for the CPA exam.  It cost me $500 or less and it was under powered even by 2006/2007 standards.  For going online, using study programs, microsoft office, etc it worked just fine.  As MidJD said the cheapest computers today will run the programs most users run.  That same cheap computer will be many times better and powerful than the one I had. 

[perhaps]

Hhhmmm had not thought of another brand. The desktop and my work desktop are Dell's and have been fine for a few yrs. I will do some research on the others.

She really can't use the kindle. The screen is not big enough. She has to do some timed math exercises. The virtual keyboard blocks the word problem. She can use the netbook if I line it up just right.

I guess I will stop by bestbuy and see what they have. Not in a huge rush but I don't think waiting until black Friday is gonna work.

I think i want to get one with a large screen. Dh's eyes start bothering him after using the netbook for too long. He could get some work done downstairs and not feel trapped in the office upstairs.

[souldoubt]

I'd recommend sites like slickdeals.net to see what deals they have on laptops and read the reviews before making a purchase.  I haven't been to Best Buy in years but when I did use to go it generally wasn't the cheapest option as far as computer stores went but especially compared to online purchases.

[giramomma]

We bought a basic Toshiba laptop from staples. The non-sale price was $500, and we paid $350 on sale. We bought a laptap for the exact same reasons you are looking into one. I don't know how big the screen is, though. Maybe 15"?

[midjd]

I have no idea how much the docking station costs, but my work computer is a Dell laptop which plugs into a docking station and the screen is displayed on a dual monitor.  It's very handy, although the dock and dual monitor would probably end up costing at least as much as the laptop itself. Still, may be worth it to avoid eye strain - plus it's super convenient to use it essentially as a desktop while at work, and then unplug it and stick it in my bag to take home.

The docking station is only about the size of a 3-hole punch, so if you had a spare 1'x1' of desk/table space somewhere downstairs where you could keep it and the monitor, it would be easy to set up.

[saveinla]

I recently bought a HP laptop and ordered it online from Buy.com through best buy (since we wanted Windows 7 and the store only had Windows 8) - 17 inch screen, pretty light and around 550 + tax. You have to order Office as extra and that costs another 100$ I think. I did not order it since my son's college offers it for free to all students.

If you don't mind buying older models, then Staples has some that are pretty cheap - 250 - 350. 

[Deleted]

For a new laptop, you need to get a touch screen. It will be a regret if you don't. I like higher resolution screens, but those come at a higher cost. Otherwise just get a 4th gen Intel i5 processor and 6gig of memory.